Shellback

“I gotta get outta here.” 

Young Francis expresses this burning desire to escape from his miserable life. Raised in upstate New York during the Great Depression, Francis struggles with poverty and the burdens of being the oldest child of six kids. Francis, his cousin Ralph, and his younger brother, Joe-Joe work odd jobs to keep their families from starving. Competitive and athletic, their passion is playing baseball and Francis was especially good at it. But summers had to be spent on farms picking beans and living in shacks. One summer, Jesse, a black baseball player hires Francis to play on a Negro team. Francis gains a newfound appreciation for the African-American culture, understanding their despair caused by racism. A baseball scout later offers Francis a contract. Lucy, the girl next door, who grows up with Francis in their Italian neighborhood, offers support and solace for his attempts at escaping poverty. They fall in love. A recruiter encourages Francis to join the Navy. At eighteen, he learns the life of a shellback, a seasoned, “salty” sailor. Beginning with the Pearl Harbor surprise attack, Francis discovers the ravages of war and is caught in World War II’s Pacific battles. Losing close friends, he clings to his love for Lucy. She agrees to be his war bride, despite the chance that Francis may not return. This coming-of-age novel is based on actual accounts. Sailors’ personal narratives shine a light on those who sacrificed to defeat a mortal enemy. Francis’s story also depicts how children of immigrants struggled to fulfill their parents’ dream for better lives in America. This story is relevant and timely and provides a perspective on how on slightly things change for today’s immigrants.